Buttonhole device.



- Wa'mamew K. GORMAN. BUTTONHOLE DEVICE. APPLICATION IILED FEB. 2, 1909.

Patented Mar.8,1910.-

ANDREW a, armmm c0. PHOYO-LITHOGRAPHERSWASHINETON. n r:

KATHERINE GORE IAN, OF LUS ANGELES, GALIFORNLA.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. a, 1911).

Application filed February 2, 1909. Serial No. 475,721.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KATHERINE Gomrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Buttonhole Device, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention are to provide a device that will securely hold the button in position when inserted into the hole therefor, at the same time protecting the button hole against wear and tear. It also provides a neat finishing to the button-hole.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention in the form I at present deem most advisable.

Figure 1 is a front view of a flexible member provided with a button-fastener embodyin my invention. Fig. 9. is a back view of the same with a button inserted. This view is taken on line :0 Fig. i. The button is shown centered with the button-hole to show that the elastic retainer may be smaller than the button and the button-hole. Fig. 3 shows a button-fastener with the button partly through in the operation of releasing or fastening the button. The button is shown of a size to fitthe button-hole and to stretch the elastic cord. Fig. 1- is a section on line .11", Fig. 2. showing also the member to which the button is attached. Fig. 5 shows the invention as used for a stud. Fig. 6 shows an elastic-retainer manufactured in the form of a ring and ready to apply to a button-hole. Fig. i is a view from line 00 Fig. 1.

The invention consists of a loop or ring 1 of elastic cord applied to and of less size than tne inner edge of a button-hole 2 which is made and worked in the same fashion as an ordinary button-hole. The loop 1 may be formed by taking a piece of elastic cord the desired length, fastening the ends securely together the under and inside end 3 of the worked button-hole; again at the outside end at and midway on each side of the button-hole, as shown at 5 and 6 in Fig. 2. The stitches 7 securing the loop to the buttonhole proper may all be taken on the under or back side of the button-hole and of the clastic cord, thereby being invisible on the right side of the article provided with the fastener.

My object in fastening the elastic loop in only four places, thus providing a series of loose elastic sections at around the hole, is to allow the loop great freedom to stretch in the operation of passing the button through the button-hole, as shown in Fig. 3, and yet allowing it to close again so as to fit snugly about the shank of the button after the same has been inserted shown in Figs. 2 and 4c, and also to require to be stretched before the button is again drawn through, so that the button cannot accidentally escape, as it requires rightly-directed force to unbutton it.

The elastic may be manufactured in rings of various sizes, and of silk, cotton, or other woven covering of any color to match the fabric in which the button-hole is to be made. The rings can then be readily applied by fastening to the button-hole at each end 3 and 4t, and midway of each side 5 and 6. The elastic loop or ring is of considerably smaller diameter than the buttonhole, thereby firmly holding the button in place after it has been forced through the button-hole.

My invention is found very useful in keeping the button-hole in shape, preserving it in good form after the garment in which it is used is worn, and the retainers may be readily renewed by simply cutting the stitches 7 and stitching new loops in place. The same idea may be carried out for use with studs, as shown in Fig. 5. It can be used not only in any garment in which a stud or button and button-hole is used,'but also in carriage-curtains, horse-blankets, etc., in silk, wool, linen, cotton, or other fabric. It is very useful on raiircoats and can be used on celluloid collars and cuffs.

The member 8 that is provided with the button-hole may be of any form and of any material through which the button may be passed. and to which the retainer 1 may be attached at intervals; and the member 9 to which the button 10 is fastened may be of any requisite form and material.

I claim:

1. Abutton-hole device comprising a button-hole, an elastic loop or ring of less size than said button-hole and fastened to said button-hole at intervals around the margin thereof, loose sections of said loop being provided intermediate the fastenings substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A button-hole device comprising a button-hole, an elastic loop or ring fastened to 10 to said button-hole bystitches at each end I and midway on each side thereof, the intermediate sections being loose.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 26th day of January 1909.

KATHERINE GORMAN.

In presence of- JAMES R. TOWNSEND, M. BEULAH TOWNSEND. 

